So you want to resurrect an old bike?

Abridged project history

Restoration project 1: 1983 XJ650
Purchase $1000 (2 year old tires, did not start)
Parts approx $500 in total
Labor about 80 hours + not including research over 3 months
Ran like a champ for 2 years after finishing
Needed room so Sold $800 in the beginning of winter (I wish I had the room, I miss this bike but new owner was very happy to get it)

Restoration project 1: 1982 XJ650
Purchase $400 (Needed tires did not start, Facebook opportunity buy project for friend)
Parts approx $600 in total including 2 tires I put on myself
Labor about 40 hours over 1 month (nothing new to learn)
Ran like a champ for 2 months and guy I bought it for changed his mind so I flipped it.
Flipped it for $1600 during the early summer.

Resusitation project 3 : 1983 XJ650 (sort of cause was just helping someone else get it running).
Purchase (N/A)
Parts (N/A)
Labor : 3 hours (carb rebuild and getting it running only)

Restoration project 4: 1978 XS650 (got from guy I got project bike #1 from)
Purchase : Traded $300 worth of gun parts for
Parts : Approx $1200 in total (so far)
Labor : 120 hours and counting.

I will say this, until I formally retire, I don't think I'll want to take on another project bike. I do comb fakebook market place all the time just to look but don't have the room right now w/ 4 bikes in the stall (next to the XS, the 2nd oldest bike is a '21)

It stands to reason that NO ONE should buy an old or even "project" bike unless they plan to spend LOTS of time on it and see the restoration/resuscitation as the project itself. Project 1 and Project 4 all started in the Nov/Dec time so it was over the winter projects.

As far as tools go, I have never included the cost of new tools in projects cause in general, they are used elsewhere. But yes, its a cost, Honestly, if you are counting that cost into some sort of cost/benefit calculation, you have lost that battle already.

BTW, there ARE cheap motorcycles out there but they are few and far between. The guy that got my '83 XJ650 got a working bike that was ridden regularly for a song. You often find people in the winter selling bikes that run where they want to get rid of it to buy another bike and the down market when no one is buying, they sell for a lower price. Right now, its a buyer's market.
 
Worth mention is also the non economical aspects
The social part .Once you start you pretty soon .Will meet and talk to people into this.
As with every pastime Be it sports or horse riding or whatever
You meet them at bike nights and . so These are Nice People here into this rebuilding.
And old bikes.
Some are Characters but Nice People :Not met a single one that is a "Bad Hombre" as Mr Trump would say
And this is for many years.
Motorcyclists can at times have a bad reputation but not this crowd . Not all talk is about Motorcycles .And there is a lot of jokes
and Telling stories. Not many True of course. But funny.

There are clubs that have arrangements lectures for Carburetors or alike if one wants that I am not into that
I suppose one could put a financial amount on this.

There is also the exercise Lifting working and pushing ,If the alternative is sitting on the couch. The activity I do believe is
good for the health. If wrenching --The hands get stronger and if no lift there is flexing and Crawling

It is the " get away from other things " stereo on and working I do a lot outdoors --- spring sun
Polish paint and more. for me that is Quality Time.

You pay up front, or you pay as you go.
Or Both .. But it is an experience also
 
Jan_P said:
Worth mention is also the non economical aspects
The social part .Once you start you pretty soon .Will meet and talk to people into this.
As with every pastime Be it sports or horse riding or whatever
You meet them at bike nights and . so These are Nice People here into this rebuilding.
And old bikes.
Some are Characters but Nice People :Not met a single one that is a "Bad Hombre" as Mr Trump would say
And this is for many years.
Motorcyclists can at times have a bad reputation but not this crowd . Not all talk is about Motorcycles .And there is a lot of jokes
and Telling stories. Not many True of course. But funny.

There are clubs that have arrangements lectures for Carburetors or alike if one wants that I am not into that
I suppose one could put a financial amount on this.

There is also the exercise Lifting working and pushing ,If the alternative is sitting on the couch. The activity I do believe is
good for the health. If wrenching --The hands get stronger and if no lift there is flexing and Crawling

It is the " get away from other things " stereo on and working I do a lot outdoors --- spring sun
Polish paint and more. for me that is Quality Time.

You pay up front, or you pay as you go.
Or Both .. But it is an experience also
Click to expand...
Well said, Jan, there are non financial benefits including the social aspects you mention. I don't think there's any organised bike scene in the Scottish Borders, I'm not in any clubs or groups but you are given support and camaraderie on forums like this.

You mentioned the exercise - as well as getting you off the couch and using your muscles, there's mental exercise too, co-ordination to use tools, plus problem-solving, and project management and research and more.

And practice using tools for practical purposes. Usually in awkward places trying to shift awkward, damaged, rusted components - the bike does nothing if it doesn't teach you patience and persistence. And how to swear.

And you meet a variety of experts - engineers, painters, wheel-builders, blasters - they all have their processes, techniques, stories.

And the feeling of involvement when you head out on a bike you've spannered on. You know it won't break down, but you like to believe you could mend it if it does.

The warm glow of satisfaction that comes unexpectedly when you turn the key off after an errand, or when you wash the bike or when somebody pays it a compliment.
 
Last edited:
Jan_P said:
Worth mention is also the non economical aspects
The social part .Once you start you pretty soon .Will meet and talk to people into this.
Click to expand...

Raymond said:
Well said, Jan, there are non financial benefits including the social aspects you mention. I don't think there's any organised bike scene in the Scottish Borders, I'm not in any clubs or groups but you are given support and camaraderie on forums like this.
Click to expand...
I know that’s right! I consider myself a goer and doer. My closet is piled with rally tee shirts. In Memphis, I hang with folks who call themselves Old Bike Club. That means, I drive 50 miles each way once a month to eat at a crappy Mexican restaurant. I often include my wife who happens to like crappy Mexican restaurants. There’s a Christmas party coming up at an extra crappy Italian restaurant. It’s all about the people!
IMG_4374.jpeg
 
I think (for me anyways) it's the fact that I drive an hour to work each day, work my shift, drive an hour back home. All the while having not much autonomy. Stop at a red light. Go at a green light. Make this part for this customer. Make that part for that customer.

Stop at a red light. Go at a green light. Go extra fast at an orange light.

I do all that because my family depends on me to do all that.

But in the garage, on my time, fucking NOBODY tells me what to do. I do what I want, when I want, because I want to.
 
I derive far more personal satisfaction out of working on old machines or building something than I ever did sitting n front of a television. My shop has always been my personal sanctuary away from the the pressure of everyday life. Now that I am retired, the money is a bit tighter, but that just hones my need to repair things instead of just replacing parts.
 
Thinking of a few bikes, and more especially, older cars I've done, the "anvil" thing comes back to mind a bit. But...

You have to leave the labor completely out of the equation, as, if it were included, the whole deal would usually be massively upside down.

But of course I don't think $ is why we do it😆. Instead, it's pride of work, satisfaction, love of old motorized conveyances, gainful occupation of time, ad infinitum.
 
Highpower said:
I derive far more personal satisfaction out of working on old machines or building something than I ever did sitting n front of a television. My shop has always been my personal sanctuary away from the the pressure of everyday life. Now that I am retired, the money is a bit tighter, but that just hones my need to repair things instead of just replacing parts.
Click to expand...
I hear ya, but on the other hand, now that I'm retired I figure I can justify paying for some things that most folks wouldn't think twice about. I've pulled my share of well pumps, done my share of home plumbing, water heater replacements, pressure tank replacements, scrambled around on slippery roofs dealing with gutters, fought transmissions into place on my back using a homemade pilot tool, and so on. I'm ready to write some checks for the more aggravating/dangerous jobs. That's what I was working toward all those years.
 
Pat D said:
I hear ya, but on the other hand, now that I'm retired I figure I can justify paying for some things that most folks wouldn't think twice about. I've pulled my share of well pumps, done my share of home plumbing, water heater replacements, pressure tank replacements, scrambled around on slippery roofs dealing with gutters, fought transmissions into place on my back using a homemade pilot tool, and so on. I'm ready to write some checks for the more aggravating/dangerous jobs. That's what I was working toward all those years.
Click to expand...
Exactamundo! Way easier on my back to sign a check. I don't even do my own car/truck oil changes any more. I still do the tractors but they're dead simple and I can do it without crawling around on my belly like a snake.
 
Downeaster said:
Exactamundo! Way easier on my back to sign a check. I don't even do my own car/truck oil changes any more. I still do the tractors but they're dead simple and I can do it without crawling around on my belly like a snake.
Click to expand...
I just finished servicing my car. It has 250,000 miles on it. Oil change. transmission fluid change, power steering fluid change, polished headlights, etc etc. I had to spend extra time because I paid a shop to do the work at 200,000 miles. My transmission pan was bent from over torqued bolts. Then RTV was glopped all around the perimeter of the seal to stop the leaks. That's a lot of time I could have spent doing something else, like maybe a motorbike ride. I'd rather not work on my car, but if I don't, somebody is going to screw it up for me. Not to mention what they charge me to damage my equipment.
 
jetmechmarty said:
I just finished servicing my car. It has 250,000 miles on it. Oil change. transmission fluid change, power steering fluid change, polished headlights, etc etc. I had to spend extra time because I paid a shop to do the work at 200,000 miles. My transmission pan was bent from over torqued bolts. Then RTV was glopped all around the perimeter of the seal to stop the leaks. That's a lot of time I could have spent doing something else, like maybe a motorbike ride. I'd rather not work on my car, but if I don't, somebody is going to screw it up for me. Not to mention what they charge me to damage my equipment.
Click to expand...
:confused:I have heard that story so many times. When we pay someone to do something mechanical we hope they are good enough, and sadly, these days more and more that is not the case.
This is a great thread. If you're not into repairing/maintaining an old vehicle like most of us are, you just don't understand the joy of it. I've lost lots of money on car and bike projects over the last 42 years, but I've learned a lot, and had some great friendships along the way. And in the end you get the satisfaction of "goin' down the road feelin' bad".
 
I have (had...he had a stroke) a trusted mechanic do all my work once a vehicle is out of warranty.

I have a lead on a new shop, but I need to check and see if my regular guy has recovered and gone back to work. I doubt it, but I'll check.

Hell will freeze over before I let some zit-faced teenybopper at Quickie Loob even TOUCH my car, much less "work" on it.
 

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